DANC to dedicate trail to former director at open house

RODMAN  During Saturdays annual open house at the Solid Waste Management Facility, 23400 Route 177, the Development Authority of the North Country will dedicate a trail in honor of a former authority director.

According to a press release, the Douglas L. Murray Trail will honor Mr. Murrays service as a member of the DANC board of directors. The dedication ceremony is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the trailhead off Route 177, a half mile before the entry road to the landfill.

The open house, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature bus tours of the facility, environmental displays and vendor exhibits, guided nature walks, and live birds of prey with Rick West and the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park. Activities for children include a sustainability quest. A home composting tumbler will be given away. Food and beverages will be available for purchase through the Rodman Fire Department Auxiliary.

The approximately two-mile trail, north of the landfill, is an interpretive trail that includes educational displays concerning renewable energy, the old farms of the area, mammals and birds found at the location and edible landscape such as berries and apples. According to Richard R. LeClerc, general manager of the Solid Waste Management Facility, there are plans to establish an educational center that could be used to for exhibits.

Having the trail dedicated to Doug speaks for itself, Mr. LeClerc said. He was dedicated to the agricultural community in the north country and it was good to have the opportunity to honor him in this way.

The general manager noted the trail will be open daily during daylight hours for pedestrian travel, including walking, running, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Were pretty excited and humbled, said Mr. Murrays son, Lynn A. Murray. We are honored they decided to do that, especially since he spent his whole life in support of education in one way or another. He was a former member of the Jefferson Community College board of trustees. He took every opportunity to promote education for anyone of any age. He read all the latest journals on anything he was involved in. ... He was a lifelong learner.

The Jefferson County Board of Legislators appointed the younger Mr. Murrays wife, Margaret L. Peggy Murray, to fill his fathers unexpired term on the DANC board. The former authority board member died in a farm accident at the age of 83 in August 2012. He had served as a member of the authority for 18 years.

Mrs. Murray, who is a co-owner of the familys Murcrest Farm in Copenhagen, will serve a term that ends Dec. 31, 2015. She also is a farm business management educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County.

Commenting rules:

Stick to the topic of the article/letter/editorial.

When responding to issues raised by other commenters, do not engage in personal attacks or name-calling.

Comments that include profanity/obscenities or are libelous in nature will be removed without warning.

Violators' commenting privileges may be revoked indefinitely. By commenting you agree to our full Terms of Use.